Tuesday 5 December 2017 19:51, UK
Aberdeen have refused Rangers permission to speak to Derek McInnes over the managerial vacancy at Ibrox.
The Gers are still looking for a replacement for Pedro Caixinha, who was sacked towards the end of October and has since been announced as the new head coach of Mexican side Cruz Azul.
Graeme Murty has been in interim charge since Caixinha's departure, but hinted over the weekend that a resolution Rangers' search was close.
McInnes has been favourite to take over from Caixinha for some time, and Rangers' official approach comes two days after a second Scottish Premiership meeting between the sides at Pittodrie.
Rangers claimed a 2-1 victory in that game, which came four days after a comfortable 3-0 win over McInnes' men at Ibrox - they now sit above the Dons in second, seven points adrift of rivals Celtic.
An Aberdeen statement read: "Aberdeen Football Club has announced this evening that Rangers have contacted the Club asking for permission to speak to Derek McInnes and that permission has been refused."
McInnes hinted on Sunday that Rangers' manager search was being poorly handled, when he said: "I made my position clear a few weeks ago and this has been ongoing.
"It just feels as if it has dragged on and on. I'm not happy with how things have played out. I know [the press] have a job to do and must be getting fed some sort of stuff, so there has been plenty of encouragement to run stories.
"Everybody seems to be in the know and every other day there is someone giving an opinion on my future, and what Rangers are doing. It's not been as straightforward as it should have been the last few weeks."
